Emergency lighting system



Oct 7, 1924. I O. W. ALTHOFF ET AL EMERGENCY LIGHTING SYSTEM 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28 1921 H f 1 7 1 "Wm 3mm UscarW. A'lIhuffLanna-r d 5 .Elalula.

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Oct. 7, 1924. 1,511,097

O. W. ALTHOFF ET AL EMERGENCY LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed June 28. 1921 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Hh, 54 44 J 7/- !I 15 -56 1d 1/ 5/ is J n 16' I I 'I 1 II I Z 3 1. l h. I I v I awn tom Lennard E .Halula.

attozmq Oct. 7, 1924. 1,511,097

0. W. ALTHOFF ET AL EMERGENCY LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed June 28. 1 921 3sheets-sheet 5 r j jg a] 5'2 77 7,7 75 M W #5 I USCBTW. AHhnfI.

Lennard 5.131.311.1151

.Patented on. 1, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1 1,511,097 PATENT omen.

QSCAR W. ALTHOFF AND LEONARD S. BALUTA, 0F IBEBWICK, PENNSYLVANIA.

EMERGENCY LIGHTING SYSTEM.

Application filed June 28, 1921. Serial No. 481,080. I

\To all whom it may cmweriz:

. Be it known that we, OSCAR W. AIIIHOFF and LEONARD S. BALUTA, citizensof the United States, residing at Berwick, in the county of Columbia andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Emergency Lighting Systems, of which the following is aspecification. Y v

This invention relates to lighting systems, and the primary object ofthe invention is to provide an improved emergency lighting system foruse in connection with the ordinary light systems of theaters, churches,hospitals, street cars and the like, or any place orbuilding, wherecrowds are wont to congregate at night, and who would be liable tobecome uneasy if the lights suddenly fail, the emergency light systembeing so arranged as to permit the same to be iwiiltched on when theordinary light system A further object of the invention is to provide aportable self contained auxiliary light system, which is adapted to beautomatically brought into use when the ordinary light system of abuilding or other establishment through any cause whatsoever, theauxiliary light .system being constructed as to be capable of use for.numerous different purposes, and which embodiesa "main lamp,

whose rays can'be trained at any desired point, and which lightingsystem. can have incorporated in the circuit thereof, any suitable typeof picture projecting machine, so

that any desirable matter, capable of quieting a multitude of people canbe flashed upon a screen, which can be located at an advantageous place.

. A further object of the invention is. to

i provide a portable self contained subsidiary lighting system, which isadapted to be connected with the ordinary lighting system, and whichincludes a small signal or pilot lamp, which is normally in circuit andillaminated when the ordinary lighting cir-- cuit is fimctioning properlin order to indicate that the auxiliary 'ghting system is properlyconnected, the auxiliary light system embodying a novel form ofautomatic switch, which is adapted to close the circuit of the auxiliarylight .system, when the ordinary circuit becomes inoperative through anycause.

'A" further object of the invention is to should fail to function.

provide a novel means for adjusting the .can be readily'incorporatedwith any type of ordinary lighting system.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will behereinafter more specifically described,

claimed and illustrated, in the accompanying drawings, forming apart ofthis specification, and in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the im-.

proved auxiliary lighting systems, showing one of the side walls of thecasing removed.

Figure 2 is a similar view, showing. parts ofthe device in section.

Figure 3 is adia'grammatic view of the wiring circuit of the improvedauxiliary lighting system in connection with the ordiment and operationof the various parts of the device, when the ordinary lighting system isfunctioning properly.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the positlon ,of the various parts,and the operationthereof when the ordinary lighting circuit is notfunctioning properly, or when the main circuit is open.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the letter A indicates the imnary wiring circuit, showing thearrangeproved auxiliary lighting device; B, a stereopticon or otherpicture projecting machine; and C, a screen on which the matter from themachine B is adapted to be projected.

The improved auxiliary lighting device A includes a casing D; a sourceof electrical energy E; a lighting device F; a novel automatic circuitclosing device G; for connecting the lighting device F with the sourceof electrical energy E, when the ordinary light circuit designated bythe'letteiH is not functioning properly. The improved auxiliarylightingdevice A also includes the pilot or signal light-I forindicating that The case 15 from the lamp 17 lower end of the standardor post the improved lighting device A is functioning properly inconnection with the main lighting circuit H.

e casing D can be constructed in any preferred manner, and of anypreferred material, and as shown includes the lower wall 5, which alsoconstitutes a base plate. The lower wall or base plate 5 has securedthereto in any preferred manner, the longitudinally extending side walls6, the transverse end walls 7. The upper ends of the side walls 6 andthe end walls 7 are closed by a top wall 8, which can be in the natureof a removable closure, if so desired, so that parts ofthe device can bereadily exposed, or if so desired, one of the side walls 6 may be formedremovable, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

If so desired, the casing D may have arranged therein a transversepartition 10, which divides the casing into a compartment 11, and acompartment 12. The compartment 11 is adapted to receive and contain thesource of electrical energy E, while the compartment 12 is adapted tocontain the operating parts of the device.

The source of electrical energy E may be of any preferred type, bestsuited for the character of the work to be performed by the auxiliarydevice, and by way of illustration, the source of electrical energy hasbeen shown to be a storage battery 14s This battery 14 can be of anypreferred size or make, and includes the usual terminal or binding posts15 and 1.6. The upper Wall 8 ofthe casing D supports the mainlight F.This light F may be arranged atany preferred point on the easing, and byWay of illustration has been shown at the central point thereof andincludes a housing 15', a supporting standard orpost 16', and the lampproper 17. is of a hollow shape, and forms means for housing the variousparts of the electrical connections for the lamp.

he upper end of the casing or base 15 is provided with a guide ring 18,which rotatably receives the outwardly extending right angular flange 19formed .on the 16, which is also of hollow formation, and which receivesthe electric wires, which willbe here-- inafter more fully described. Bythis construction, it can be seen that the post or standard 16 can berotated in any desired direction so as to permit the rays of light to betrained at the desired place. The lamp 17 proper, includes the usualreflector 20, for the reception of an incandescent bulb the reflector 20has attached thereto a ball base 22, which is adapted to receive on itsopposite sides the cars 23 formed on the upper terminal of the post orstandard 16'. The ball base 22 is connected to the lating block 50 21.The inner end of ears 23 by a suitable pivot pin 24, which permits thelamp to be moved up or down so as to facilitate the training of the raysof light from the lamp at the desired point. If so desired this ballbase 22 may be provided with a suitable handle to facilitate themanipulation thereof. The lower end of secure thereto an insulatingplate 26, which supports a pair of'binding posts 27. These binding posts27 have secured thereto the electric wires 28, which are extendedthrough the post 16 and are connected to the terminals of the socket forthe incandescent bulb 21. The binding posts 27 have connected theretothe depending arms 29, which carry suitable contact points 30, which areadapted to engage respectively, inner and outer concentric contact rings31 and 32. These rings 31 and 32 are connected to an insulating plate33, which is in turn connected to the inner surface of the hollow baseor casing 15 of the lamp F. These rings 31 and 32 are also provided withdepending binding posts 34 and 35, which have connected thereto electricwires 36 and 37. K

The improved automatic switch G for closing the circuit through the lampF when the main circuit His rendered inoperative through any cause,includes an electro-magnet 40. This electro-magnet 40 is provided with asliding core or shown the magnet is movement upon a shell 42," which iscar- ,ried by a lower bracket 43. This bracket may be secured to thetransverse partition 10. A second bracket 44 is arranged above theelectro-magnet 40, and carries a nut 45, inwhich is threaded a rod 46.This rod 46 has its lower end swivelly mounted in a suitable head 47carried by the upper end of the magnet. This rod 46 is extended throughthe top wall 8 of the casing D and is provided with a suitable head 48to facilitate the turning thereof. By turning the rod 46, it can be seenthat the same will be threaded through the nut 45, thus raising andlowering the electro-magnet on the guide shell 42. The upper bracket 44carries a suitable sleeve 49,- which has secured therein an insulatingblock 50. This insuis provided with a pair of spaced contact points 51and 52. These points are extended into the guide shell 42. The core orarmature 41 of the electro magnet is provided with a bridge piece 53,which is adapted to bridge the gapbetween the two contacts 51 and 52,when the armature or core is in its raised position.

The core or armature 41 is normally urged upwardly inthe. guide shell 42toward the spaced contacts 51 and 52 by means of an expansion spring 54.The lower end. of this spring 54,engages a sliding block- 55. The

25 in order the post or standard 16 has.

. lower end of this block 55 bears against an adjustable screw 56, whichis threaded into a cap 57 carried by the lower bracket 43. It can beseen that by adjusting the screw 56, the block 55 can be raised orlowered in order to tension the spring 54. The storage battery 14 hasits terminal 15 connected by means of the electric wire 36, to thebinding post 34, and has its other terminal 16 electrically connected bymeans of a wire 58 with the contact 51., The other contact 52 haselectrically connected thereto a wire 58'. This wire 58 leads to oneterminal of a switch 59, which is disposed exteriorly of the casing, andcarried by the top wall 8. Theflother terminal of the switch 59 haselectrically connected thereto the wire 37, which is connected to thebinding post35. It thus can be seen that when the circuit is brokenthrough the electromagnet 40, the armature or core 41 will be projectedupwardly by means of the spring 54, which will bridge the gap betweenthe contacts 51 and 52, and thus close the circuit throughth'eincandescent bulb 21. The wire 37 has electrically connected thereto awire 61, which is electrically connected with a binding post 62, whichis carried by the upper wall 8 of the casing]). The upper wall 801? thecasing D'adjacent to the binding post 52- is provided witha binding post63, and this binding post 63 has connected thereto an electric wire 64,which is electrically connected with the wire 36. The binding posts 62and 63 have in turn electrically connected thereto suitable electricwires65, which are extended to the stereopticon or other pictureprojecting machine B.

Thus, it also can be seen that when the circuit is closed by theelectro-magnet, that the stereopticon or picture projecting machine Bwill also be brought into operation. This picture machine B can be ofany pre ferred type or make, and if so desired can be the ordinarymotion picture machine, when the improved device is used in motionpicture theatres. The machine B is so trained so as to throw its rays oflight on the screen C, which can be of any preferred character, and itis desirable that a suitable sign be flashed on the screen by themachine, in order to allay any fear that the audience may have when thetheatre lights go out.' The sign flashed on the screen may. read Keepyour seats, lights temporarily disconnected, or some other suitableslogan. The wires and 71 of the main circuit H, are extended into thecasing D, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, and thesewires may be extended into a suitable transformer 72, if the alternatingcurrent is utilized. The transformer as nnected respecshown has itsterminals tively by wire 73 to one rminal of the electro magnet 40, andby a wire 74 one terminal of the lamp 75 proper'of the pilot or othersignal lamp 1. The terminal of the lamp proper 75 has electricallyconnected thereto a wire 7 5, which is extended to one terminal ofa-second switch 76, which is arranged exteriorly of the casing D adjacent to the switch 59. The other terminal of the switch 76 haselectrically connected thereto a wire 77, which is in turn electricallyconnected to the other terminal of the electro-magnet 40.. 'By arrangingthe signal or pilot lamp I in the main circuit, it can be readilydetermined when the auxiliary lighting device is properly connected withthe main circuit, and whether the same is functioning pro-perly.- Thepilot or signal lamp proper includes the ordinary socket 80, in which ispositioned an incandescent lamp 81. This incandescent lamp is arrangedin a suitable reflector 82. The reflector aligns with an opening 83formed in one end wall 7 of the casing, 1

and this opening may be covered by suitable glass 84, which may be ofany color, such as red. This glass may also have painted thereon anysuitable indicia for indicating the character of the improved device.

In operation of the improved device, it can be seen that when the mainlighting circuit H is functioning properly, the current will flowthrough the electromagnet- 40 and thus energize the same, andattract thecore or armature 41 thereof ato its lowermost position against thetension of the coil spring 54. The current will also flow through thesignal or pilot light I, to indicate that the device isfunctioningproperly. Should the main lighting circuit be rendered inoperative forany cause, the circuit through the magnet 40 willgbe at once broken,which would permit the spring 54 to force the armature or core 41upwardly and move the bridge member 53 into engagement with the contacts'51 and 52. This would of course, close the circuit through theincandescent lamp 21, and through the stereopticon or other pictureprojecting machine B The operator would then move the lamp F around thebase 15 to various points of the house, and move the same up or down onits pivot pin 24, which would permit the rays of light to be projectedwhere they would be most needed. The wires 70 and 71 are of courseadapted to'be extended to an suita'ble source of electrical energy, whichas been shown by way of example in the diagrammatic view to be agenerator 85.

This circuit has also been shown with a switch 86 therein. If directcurrent is t6 be used instead of alternating current, transformer 72 canbe dispensed with, when a suitable resistance coil is used in its place.

ure .3 of the drawings, the switch 86 is shown its closed position,whlch permits In the diagrammatic view shown in Fi a i the \normalfunctioning of the electro-magpilot light will disposed in its lowermostposition. Thus the switch 86 R contacts in stereopticon machine net 40and the pilot light I, and thus the be lit and the armature 41 the lampF and the lamps of, the picture projecting machine B would be darkened,as shown in F igure 3.

In the diagrammatic view of Figure 4, has been shown open, by way ofexample, which would of course, break he circuit through theelectro-magnet 40, t us permitting the raising of the armature 41 andthe closin of the circuit through the lamp F and 516' stereopticonmachine. This will of course light the lamp of the and the lamp F, whilethe pilot or signal lamp I will be dark or out as indicated in thisview.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that an exceptionallysimple and self contained device has been provided, for permitting alight to be had and a warning to be given, when the ordinary lightcircuit of a building goes out or is rendered inoperative in any waywhatsoever. have shown one form, and one particular use of our device,it is to be understood that the same can be used for numerous other purses, such as burglar or other alarms.

hanges in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scopeof this invention; but,

e claim:

1. In an auxiliary lighting system for theatres and the like, thecombination with a normally closed main circuit, a normally openauxiliary circuit, an automatic electromagnetic circuit c-l-osing devicearranged in the normally closed main circuit for closing the auxiliarycircuit when the main circuit is opened through any cause, and a pictureprojecting machine arranged in said auxiliary circuit and functioningwhen the auxiliary circuitis closed.

2. An auxilia lighting system comprising a portable se f containeddevice, includmg a casing, a battery arranged in said casing, adirigible light carried by said casing,

a normally opened circuit including the bat-' tery and said dirigiblelight, a pair of spaced said circuit, an electromagnetic circuit closingdevice arranged 1n said cas- While we .said main circuit, a

ing, and means for operatively connecting said electromagnetic with theline wires of a main circuit.

3. An auxiliary lighting system comprising a portable self containeddevice including a casing, a battery. arranged in said casing, adirigible light carried by said casing, a normally opened circuitincluding the bat tery and said dirigible light, a pair of spacedcontacts in said circuit, an electrolna netic circuit closing devicearranged in sai cas-.

ing, and means for operatively connecting said electromagnetic circuitclosing device circuit closing device with the line wires of a maincircuit, and a stereopticon machine connected with said normally opencircuit.

4. An auxiliary lighting device for theaters and the like comprising a;casing, a partition in said casing, a battery arranged in the casing onone side of said partition, a signal lamp arranged in the casing on theother side of the partition, a normally open circuit including thebattery, a pair of spaced contacts in said circuit, an electromagneticcircuit closing device positioned in the casing on the opposite sides ofthe partition from said battery and arranged to close the circuitbetween said contacts, means for electrically connecting theelectromagnet and the signal arranged in said circuit,an-electromagnetic circuit closing device disposed in the casing andarranged to close the circuit between said contacts, means electricallyconnecting the electromagnetic circuit closing device to the line wiresof a main circuit, a signal lamp carried by the casing and arranged inpicture projecting mato said auxiliary circuit. and in said normallychine connected manually operated switches opened circuit and said maincircuit.

OSCAR w. ALTHOFF. LEONARD s. BALUTA.

